Colusa
County
Biographies
FERDINAND J. MENDONSA
Any
satisfactory biographical record of the Sacramento valley must include specific
reference to the life and labors of the late Ferdinand J. Mendonsa. He death, on May 30,
1924, was greatly deplored, not only because of his prominence and influence in
the business world, but also by reason of his excellent personal qualities and
his genuine interest in the welfare of his fellowmen. He was born on the Azores islands, December
14, 1878, and was reared on a small home farm.
He received his education in the public schools of the neighborhood and
when twenty years came alone to the United States. He arrived in Nevada with a cash capital of
five dollars, but soon found employment, going to work as a sheep tender for
Mr. Kent, with whom he remained for four years.
He then went to Oakland, where he was employed in a tannery on East
Fourteenth Street. He was economical and
industrious, so that at length he was enabled to start out on his own account,
embarking in the sheep business with seven hundred sheep and adding rapidly to
his flocks until at one time he owned over eighty thousand head. Coming to Colusa County, he engaged in sheep raising on a large scale and at the time of his death was
associated in the business with James Mills, of Maxwell. Shortly prior to his death Mr. Mendonsa built one of the finest homes in the Sacramento
valley, the property consisting of eighty acres of excellent land, on which the
attractive and comfortable residence stands.
It is located on Bridge Street, Colusa, and is largely planted to
prunes.
On
July 20, 1912, in Nevada, Mr. Mendonsa was united in
marriage to Miss Maria Jesse, who also is a native of the Azores. She proved a true helpmate to her husband,
assisting and encouraging him in his undertakings and rejoicing with him in his
successes. She is a woman of fine
personal traits, gracious and kindly in manner, and has always enjoyed the
respect and loyal regard of those who know her.
Mr. and Mrs. Mendonsa adopted one child,
Thelma; Mrs. Mendonsa is guardian for two, a niece
and a nephew, Inez, who is in high school, and John, who is in grammar school.
Mr.
Mendonsa, though a busy man, found time to devote to
the interests of his home town and served two terms as a member of the board of
trustees of Colusa. He was a director of
the Colusa County Bank and a director of the Virden Packing Company. He was a Mason, attaining the thirty-second
degree of the Scottish Rite, and served twice as
master of his lodge. He also belonged to
the Mystic Shrine at Sacramento, the Order of the Eastern Star in Colusa, and
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Marysville. He was also a member of the California Wool
Growers Association. He filled a large
place in the life of the community and well merited the unqualified respect
accorded him. The following deserved
appreciation of Mr. Mendonsa appeared in a local
newspaper at the time of his death:
“From
a humble beginning, Mendonsa carved for himself a niche
in the Sacramento valley hall of fame.
Death found him rated as one of the wealthiest men in the valley, every
cent accumulated by thrift, hard work and the assistance of his wife. He was big morally, physically and financially. He was one of Colusa’s leading citizens and
served as a member of the board of trustees for many years. He was generous to a fault and never refused a friend assistance.
He was square in his business dealings and was an ideal employer. His business interests were extensive and he
was frequently alluded to as the ‘sheep king of the Sacramento valley.’ Mendonsa’s place in
the community will not be easily filled.
He was a friend of the town and its interests, a man whom anyone could
consider it an honor to be called friend.”
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 172-175. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Colusa County Biographies